Check feeding mechanism

ABSTRACT

899,481. Feeding sheets. NATIONAL CASH REGISTER CO. Oct 11, 1960 [Oct. 12, 1959], No. 34775/60. Class 100(1) Sheets are separated sequentially from a stack in a magazine by a first suction belt device, and double-separation is prevented by a second suction belt device which is effective to feed back a second sheet, if such is separated simultaneously with the first sheet. The apparatus is included in a machine for sorting business sheets or forms. As shown, the magazine comprises a front plate 78, side plate 79, and back plate 80 adjustably mounted in a slot 81 in the top 25 of the apparatus, and the sheets, such as cheques, are stacked on edge between the plates 78, 80. To assist sheet-separation, a cam or solenoid-operated member may project through an opening in the plate 78 to jog the stack periodically. The sheet-separator means comprises an endless upper belt 38 and a similar lower belt 42 (not shown) mounted on pulleys, such as 23, 26, 29, and 32, the pulley 23 being driven continuously from an electric motor. Opposing the two belts 38, 42, but staggered vertically with respect thereto, are three belts of which only the centre one, 57, is shown: these are mounted on pulleys such as 47, 50, and 54, the pulley 47 being driven from an electric motor such that the belts travel in the opposite direction to the belts 38, 42. The centre belt 57 is provided with openings throughout its entire length, and the two belts 38, 42 are provided with larger openings throughout a portion of their length. Two vacuum shoes 62 are arranged behind the perforated belts 38, 42, a third vacuum shoe 68 is arranged behind the reverse belt 57, and a fourth shoe 73 is arranged between the belts 38, 42 at a position where these belts are given a sharp bend by a pulley 39. The shoes 62 are connected to one motor-driven vacuum pump, and the shoes 68, 73 to a second pump. Due to the separate pumps and the different size of holes in the perforated belts, the sheet separating and feeding belts 38, 42 exert a greater suctional force on the sheets than the reverse or return belt 57. If two sheets are separated together from the stack, the second sheet is normally returned by the belt 57. If the second sheet is firmly attached to the first sheet, then it is detached at the sharp bend over the guide and vacuum shoe 73, and returned by the belt 57 and its associated friction belts. The sheets are fed to a rotatable synchronizer member 12, which spaces them out and passes them to a belt system 13 where they are fed past a reading head 14 and delivered to various compartments in accordance with the data recorded thereon.

Dec. 11, 1962 J. F. CATTORINI ET AL 3,067,998

CHECK FEEDING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 001;. 12. 1959 INVENTORSJOSEPH F. CATTORINl DONALD E. LANDIS M THEIR ATTORNEYS Dec. 11, 1962 J.F. CATTORINI ETAL 3,067,998

CHECK FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 12, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2 25,

VENTOR J05 H ECATT NI DONALD E. LANDIS THEIR ATTORNEYS United StatesPatent Office 3,657,998 Patented Dec. 11, 1952 3,067,955; CHEQK FEEDINGh'iEiJHANlSM Joseph F. Cattorini, Xenia, and Donald E. Landis, NewLebanon, Ghio, assignors to The National Cash Regis ter Company, Dayton,Ohio, a corporation of Maryland Filed Oct. 12, 1959, Ser. No. 846,014) 6Claims. (Cl. 271l2} The invention relates to improvements in feedingmechanisms for forms, such as checks.

One prior art sorting apparatus for forms, such as checks, utilized acheck-feeding system embodying a belt arrangement. The check-feedingsystem operated to separate checks of miscellaneous sizes and lengths,and to feed them from a magazine past an identification pickup orreading head, and then into selected pockets of the sorting apparatus.The checks were sorted according to the data read by the pickup head.The check-feeding system of the prior art included a synchronizer deviceand a check-feeding mechanism. The check-feeding mechanism may bedefined as that part of the check-feeding system which separated thechecks and delivered them singly to the syn'chronizer device, where theywere properly spaced prior to transportation past the identificationpickup head.

In the check-feeding mechanism of the prior art, the checks were fedwhen they were forced against a moving feed belt and/ or feed belts bymeans of a vacuum acting through ports or openings in this belt. Thechecks moved between the feed belt and another belt moving in adirection opposite the direction of movement of the feed belt. Thislatter reverse-direction belt was provided for the purpose of retainingall but a single check in a magazine during one feed cycle; and furtherfor returning any surplus checks or double feeds to the magazine, if thefrictional force between the reverse-direction belt and a surplus checkwas greater than the frictional force between overlapping checks. Theprior art check-feeding mechanism utilized an unported reverse-directionbelt having a high coefficient of friction. The coefficient of frictionof this reversedirection belt was higher than the coefficient offriction of the feed belt. Accordingly, the checks were held back in themagazine, or prevented from being fed to the synchronizer device by thisreverse-direction belt until the vacuum ports on the feed belt caused anincrease in the normal force (and hence the frictional force) againstinserts of a very high coeflicient of firetion about the ports in thefeed belt.

It has been found that in the prior art cheelefeed ng mechanism, boththe feed belt and the reverse direction belt must possess a definitevalue of coeflicient of friction. It has also been found that thespacing between the feed belt and the reverse-direction belt is highlycritical.

A serious problem occunred when checks of higher normal porosity werehandled by the feeding mechanism of the prior art. The vacuum actingthrough the ports in the feed belt caused a pressure difierential alsoto be exerted on the next check to be-fed, which forced this next checkagainst the first check, whereby both checks were fed simultaneously tothe synchronizer device and a sorting error was incurred. As evidence ofthis fact, it has been found that, as the amount of the vacuum on thefeed belt was increased, the number of double feeds of checks, and hencethe sorting errors, also increased.

Another undesirable condition that was caused by the prior artcheck-feeding mechanism was the wearing of the leading edges of a checkby the high coeflicient of friction reverse belt. This appreciablydecreased the ability of the feeding mechanism to feed checks one at atime during subsequent sorting operations.

However, the greatest shortcoming of the prior are check-feedingmechanism was occasioned by the change in the coefficient of friction ofthe feed and reverse-direction belts through wear, glazing, generatingheat, etc. As a result, it has been found necessary to change orregenerate the belts quite frequently, resulting in high maintenancecosts. It has also been found necessary to adjust the spacing betweenthe feed and reverse-direction belts quite often, especially where formsof different thicknesses were handled by the feeding mechanism.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a continuouslyported reverse belt is utilized with the ported feed belt instead of theunported reverse belt of the prior art chec -'feeding mechanism. Avacuum is applied to the continuously ported belt whereby the checks areretained in the magazine except those checks withdrawn one at a timetherefrom by the operation of the ported feed belt. Thus a portedfriction reverse belt, supplied with vacuum, is utilized to retain thechecks in the magazine, to separate overlapping checks, and to returnany double feed to the magazine instead of the purely frictional reversebelt of the prior art. As a result, the feeding mechanism of thisinvention may utilize a lower coefiicient of friction reverse belt, Witha consequent lessening of wearto the leading edges of the checks, andthe spacing between the feed and reverse belts is not as critical asthat of the prior art device.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a vacuum, separatefrom the vacuum applied to a check through the openings in the feedbelts, is applied to a check to separate it from an overlapping orincorrectly fed check. The continuously ported reverse belt is utilizedto return the incorrectly fed check toward the magazine and prevent thesynchronizer device from receiving a doubie feed. This latterarrangement is especially useful when checks of extreme porosity are tobe handled by the feeding mechanism.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide acheck-feeding mechanism which overcomes the disadvantages of themechanism of the known prior art, and to provide an improvedcheck-feeding mechanism characterized by a high degree of reliability ofoperation and reduced maintenance costs.

it is another object of the present invention to provide an improvedcheck-feeding mechanism in which the individual feeding of checks isinsured by the use of a continuously ported vacuum reverse-directionbelt.

it is a further object of the present invention to provide acheck-feeding mechanism which includes improved means for preventing theoccurrence of a double feed.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide animproved check-feeding mechanism in which the spacing between the feedbelt and the reverse belt is not highly critical.

With these and incidental objects in view, the invention includescertain novel features of construction and combination of parts, thepreferred form or embodiment of which is hereinafter described withreference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of thisspecification.

(if said drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a check-sorting appa-,

ratus, showing the check-feeding mechanism supported on the top thereof,with a front portion of the sorting apparatus broken away to revealmeans for operating the feed ing mechanism.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top plan View of the sorting apparatus, showingthe check-feeding mechanism of this invention.

FIG. 3 is a detail view taken along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a detail view taken along the lines 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cutaway detail view of a portion of FIG. 4.

General Description The invention is illustrated in conjunction with asorting apparatus for business forms, such as checks. The sortingapparatus includes a synchronizer device, which is provided for properlyspacing the checks that are fed to it from the feeding mechanism whichis the subject matter of this invention. The synchronizer devicecomprises a rotatable member provided with projecting portions whicheffect the proper spacing of the forms. The synchronizer device itselfis not a part of the present invention.

The invention comprises a high-speed feeding mechanism to feed businessforms, such as checks, from a magazine along a feed path. The feed pathmay include a synchronizer device of the type previously referred to.

From the synchronizer device, the checks are further transported,properly spaced, past an electronic pickup head, and into sortingcompartments. The feeding mechanism is such that checks of miscellaneoussizesthat is, lengths and widthscan be inserted into a magazine, andthereafter fed from the magazine one at a time in rapid succession.

The checks are fed out of the magazine by use of vacuum. A pair ofspaced and parallel feed belts are so positioned that they pass adjacentthe mouth of the magazine, along one side of a feed path for the forms.The feed belts each have openings therein along a portion of theirlength, and the openings in one feed belt are in alignment with theopenings of the other feed belt. A hollow vacuum member or shoe ispositioned adjacent each of the feed belts along the feed path, and ameans for exhausting air in these vacuum members is provided. The vacuummembers are operable in cooperation with the openings in the feed beltsto normally cause one check at a time to be withdrawn from the magazineand to be moved along the feed path. The Withdrawn check is held incontact with the feed belts by the vacuum applied thereto through theopenings in the feed belts.

To prevent more than one check from being withdrawn from the magazine atany one time, use is made of vacuum. A reverse belt is positionedadjacent the area between the fecd belts and passes along the other sideof the feed path. The reverse belt is movable in an opposite directionto the direction of movement of the feed belts. In accordance With theinvention, the reverse belt is provided with a series of openingstherein throughout its entire length. A hollow vacuum member or shoe ispositioned adjacent the reverse belt along the reverse belt side of thefeed path, and a means for exhausting air in the vacuum member isprovided. The vacuum member is operable in cooperation with the openingsin the reverse belt to cause the checks to be retained in the magazineexcept those checks withdrawn therefrom by the operation of the vacuummembers associated with the feed belts cooperating with the openings inthe feed belts.

If more than one check should be withdrawn from the magazine at any onetime because of the porosity of the type of check handled, the foregoingreverse belt will also function as a return belt; that is, any check notdirectly influenced by the vacuum applied through the openings in thefeed belts will contact the return belt and be returned to the magazineby the effect of the vacuum applied to this check through the vacuummember associated with the return belt.

Further, in accordance with the invention, the checkfeeding mechanismutliizes another vacuum, which is applied through an additional hollowvacuum member directly to a check to separate it from an overlappingform. If extremely porous types of checks are handled, more than onecheck may be withdrawn from the magazine at a time, and the vacuumapplied through the openings in the feed belts may influence anothercheck to such a degree that it is not stripped off the first check bythe vacuum applied thereto through the openings in the return belt. Sucha double feed or overlapping check would continue along the feed pathand result in a sorting error. The additional vacuum member ispositioned at a point adjacent the feed belt side of an initial portionof the feed path for the checks. The feed and return belts pass in asubstantially parallel relationship along the initial portion of thefeed path. The vacuum member is positioned at a point of the initialportion of the feed path where the parallel relationship of the feed andreturn belts terminates. A means for exhausting air in the vacuum memberis provided. The vacuum member is operable to cause any check beingmoved along the initial portion of the feed path, under the directinfluence of the vacuum applied thereto through the openings in the feedbelts, to be diverted to a succeeding portion of the feed pathindependently of any other check which is not so directly influenced.The second check will contact the return belt and will be returned tothe magazine by the etfcct of the vacuum applied to it through thevacuum member associated with the return belt. The attractive forcedeveloped by the return belt vacuum is made smaller than the attractiveforce developed by the vacuum of the additional vacuum member, so that asingle form may be diverted to the succeeding portion of the feed path.

The invention permits all the belts used in the feeding mechanism to befabricated of the same material. Thus, all the belts will be affectedsimilarly by temperature, and show the same wear, glazing, and so on.Furthermore, the coefficient of friction of the feed and reverse beltscan theoretically be of any value. Practically, though, their valuesshould not be lower than the paperto-paper coefiicient of friction. Theuse of belts of lower coefficient of friction than the belts utilized inthe prior art feeding mechanism aids immeasurably in the elimination ofthe heretofore-mentioned wearing of the checks by the reverse belt.

Detailed Description The feeding mechanism is indicated generally by therefcnce numeral 10. It is shown in FIG. I mounted on the top right sideof a sorting apparatus 11. The sorting apparatus 11 includes a rotatablesynchronizer device 12, which is provided for properly spacing thechecks that are fed to it from the feeding mechanism. Upon leaving thesynchronizer device 12, the checks are transported by a belt systemindicated generally at 13 past a pickup device indicated generally at14, and then to the various sorting compartments 15. The checks aredelivered into the compartments 15 in accordance with the data recordedthereon.

A control panel 16 is provided with various switches, indicatedgenerally by the numerals 17, which control starting and shutdown of thesorting apparatus, and feeding of the checks.

The feeding mechanism is operated through a main shaft 18, which isrotated by a motor 19. The main shaft 18 is rotatably mounted in a pairof bearings 20. Secured to the shaft 18 is a pulley 21, which has amotor drive belt 22 wound around it. The pulley 21 is rotated clockwisewhen it is operated by the motor 19, or by any other power source. Alsosecured to the shaft 18 are a pair of pulleys 23 and 24, which arelocated on the top 25 of the sorting apparatus. Associated with thepulleys 23 and 24 are the pulleys 26 and 27, mounted on a stud 28', thepulleys 29 and 39, mounted on a stud 31; and the pulleys 32 and 33,mounted on a stud 34. Each of the studs 28, 31, and 34 is mounted in apair of bearings and is secured to the top 25 of the sorting apparatusby means of the bolts 35, 36, and 37, respectively.

A feed belt 38 is wound around the pulleys 26, 29, 32, and 23.Associated with the feed belt 38 is a roller 39,

mounted on a stud 40, which is secured to the top 25 of the sortingapparatus by means of the bolt 41. The feed belt 33 passes from aroundthe pulley 32, around the pulley 23, adjacent the roller 39, around thepulleys 26 and 29, to the pulley 32.

Another feed belt 42 is associated with the pulleys 27, 36", 33, and 24and the roller 39 in a similar manner.

Secured to the main shaft 18 is a pulley 43. A drive belt 44 is woundaround the pulley 43 and another pulley 45, which is secured to a shaft46. The shaft 46 is rotatably mounted' and extends above the top 25 ofthe sorting apparatus. The pulley 43 is rotated clockwise when it isoperated by the motor 19.

Secured to the portion of the shaft 46 which extends above the top 25 ofthe sorting apparatus are three spaced pulleys 47, 48, and 49.Associated with these pulleys are the pulleys t 51, and 52, mounted on astud 53, and three other pulleys (one pulley 54 is shown in FIG. 2)mounted on a stud 55. The studs 53 and '55 are secured to the top 25 ofthe sorting apparatus by means of bolts. For instance, the bolt 56 isused for the stud 53.

The reverse or return belt '57 (FIG. 4) is wound around the pulleys 51and 48, and around the middle pulley (not shown) attached to the stud55. The return belt 57 passes from around the pulley 48,around themiddle pulley (not shown) on the stud 55, and around the pulley 51 tothe pulley 48. An upper guide belt 58 and a lower guide belt 59 areassociated with the pulleys 47, 50, and 54, with the'pulleys 49 and "52,and with the lower pulley (not shown) of the stud 55, respectively, in asimilar manner.

The feed belts 35 and 42 are provided with openings or ports 6%) (FIG.3) throughout a portion of their length. The feed belts are adjusted sothat the openings in one belt are in alignment with the openings in theother belt.

The reverse belt 57 is provided with openings or ports 61 (PEG. 4)throughout its entire length.

A pair of spaced hollow vacuum members or shoes 62 and 63, havingorifices 64 and 65, preferably of rectangular cross-section, are mountedon the top 25 of the sorting apparatus, between the shaft 18 and thestud 34. A partial vacuum is established in the vacuum shoes 62 and 63by exhausting air through an exhaust line 66 by means of a vacuum pump67. The feed belts 3S and 42 lie next to the vacuum shoes 62 and 63,respectively.

Another hollow vacuum member or shoe 68, having an orifice 69,preferably of rectangular cross-section, is mounted on the top 25 of thesorting apparatus, between the shaft 46 and the stud 53. A partialvacuum is established in the vacuum shoe 68 by exhausting air through anexhaust line 76 by means of a vacuum pump 71, which is shown in FIG. 1to be driven by a motor 72. The reverse belt 57 lies next to the vacuumshoe 68.

A further hollow vacuum member or shoe 73, having an orifice 74,preferably of rectangular cross-section, is mounted on the top 25 of thesorting apparatus, in front of the shaft 15, and between the vacuumshoes 62 and 63. A partial vacuum is established in the vacuum shoe 73by exhausting air through an exhaust line 75 by means of the vacuum pump71.

A check separator guide 76 is positioned between the shaft 18 and thestud 53 at a point where the direction of the feed path for a check ischanged by reason of the influence of the vacuum developed at the checkseparator vacuum shoe '73. Another check guide 77 is located between thestud 28 and the roller 39 adjacent to the feed belts SS and 42.

A stack of checks or other forms to be sorted is positioned in acheck-receiving magazine, which comprises as a bottom surface the top 25of the sorting apparatus,

a front plateid mounted adjacent to the pulleys 32 and a side plate 79mounted adjacent to the pulleys 47,

33 48, and 49, and a back plate 30 adjustably mounted in a slot 81provided in the top 25 of the sorting apparatus.

6 The magazine is provided with a mouth portion indicated at 82. Thestack of checks may comprise checks of various lengths and widths.

Means may be provided for jogging the stack of checks toward the mouthof the magazine. Such a jogging means may comprise a solenoid, which isconnected to operate on a member projecting through an opening in theplate 78, or it may be in the form of a mechanical device, comprising acam positioned in the opening in the plate and adapted to jog the stackof checks.

As the feed belts 38 and 42 move in a clockwise direction, there is apossibility of Withdrawing more than one check from the bottom of thestack of checks in the mag- .azine. azine, the continuously portedreverse belt 57 is provided. Normally, the next check is held in contactwith the reverse belt 57 in the vicinity of the pulley 47 by the effectof the air being pulled through the openings 61 in the reverse belt. Thereverse belt 57 is located along the feed path and spaced from the feedbelts 38 and 42, so that single checks may pass between them. If thechecks being handled should be quite porous, and if more than one checkat a time starts down the feed path, the belt 57 Will normally returnthis surplus check to the magazine, where it will remain until it isentirely withdrawn from the magazine in the next feeding cycle. by theaction of the vacuum applied through the openings fill in the feed belts38 and 42.

There may occur a time when more than one check at a time is withdrawnfrom the magazine and the vacua um applied through the openings 65} inthefeed belts 35 and 42 influences another check to such a degree thatthe return belt 57 does not function to return such a check to themagazine. The vacuum member 73 is operable in this even to divert thecheck moving along the initial portion of the feed path under the directinfluence of the vacuum applied through the openings 66 in the feedbelts 38 and 42 to a succeeding portion of the feed path. The check notdirectly influenced by the vacuum of the feed belts 38 and 42 willcontact the return belt- 57 and will be returned to the magazine by theeffect of the vacuum applied to it through the vacuum member 68. Thislast condition may occur when the checks being handled are of anextremely porous nature.

The attractive force applied to a check by means of the vacuum appliedthrough the openings 69 in the feed belts 38 and 42 is greater than theattractive force applied to a check by means of the vacuum appliedthrough the openings 61 in the reverse belt 57, and the attractive forcedeveloped by the return belt vacuum is smaller than the attractive forcedeveloped by the vacuum of the check separator vacuum member 73. In thespecific embodiment of the invention disclosed, the openings 66 in thefeed belts 38 and 42 are larger than the openings 61 of the return belt57. The area of the feed openings 64} is approximately four times themaximum area of the reverse openings 61 that may be associated with acheck. Similarly, the area of the orifice 74 of the check separatorvacuum member 73 is greater than the maximum area of the reverseopenings 61 adjacent to the check separator vacuum member 73. Thus, thefeeding of individual checks will be accomplished, even if the amount ofthe feed belt vacuum is lower than the amount of the reverse beltvacuum. Despite this vacuum differential, the feeding of the checks willbe achieved as long as the attractive force applied to a check by way ofthe openings in the feed belts 38 and 42 is greater than the attractiveforce applied by way of the openings in the return belt 57.

It is to be noted that, in accordance with another as pect of theinvention, the feed belts 38 and as are positioned so that they do notoverlap the reverse belts 57, 55%, and 59. This arrangement assists inpreventing excessive wear on the leading edges of the checks by thereverse belt. This arrangement also reduces the normal force betweenoverlapping'checks, so that the coefficient of fric- To retain all butthe lowermost check in the mag-.

21 tion of paper to paper has less influence on the feeding of checks.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a magazinefor receiving forms of various sizes; a feed belt passing adjacent themagazine and along one side a feed path for the forms, said feed belthaving at least one opening therein; a first hollow vacuum memberpositioned adjacent said feed belt along said one side of said feedpath; means for exhausting air in said first vacuum member, said firstvacuum member operable in cooperation with the opening in said feed beltto cause one form at a time to be withdrawn from said magazine and to bemoved along said feed path; a reverse belt passing along the other sideof said feed path, said reverse belt movable in an opposite directionand having openings therein along its entire length; a second hollowvacuum member positioned adjacent said reverse belt at point along saidother side of said feed path near said magazine; and means forexhausting air in said second vacuum member, said second vacuum memberoperable in cooperation with the openings in said reverse belt to causethe forms to be retained in said magazine except those forms withdrawnone at a time therefrom.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a magazinefor receiving forms of various sizes; a feed belt passing adjacent themagazine and along one side of a feed path for the forms, said feed belthaving at least one opening therein; a first hollow vacuum memberpositioned adjacent said feed belt along said one side of said feedpath; means for exhausting air in said first vacuum member, said firstvacuum member operable in cooperation with the opening in said feed beltto cause normally one form at a time to be withdrawn from said magazineand to be moved along said feed path; a reverse belt passing along theother side of said feed path, said reverse belt movable in an oppositedirection and having openings therein along its entire length; a secondhollow vacuum member positioned adjacent said reverse belt along saidother side of said feed path; and means for exhausting air in saidsecond vacuum member; said second vacuum member operable in cooperationwith the openings in said reverse belt to cause any form not directlyinfluence by the vacuum applied through the opening in said feed belt tocontact said reverse belt whereupon it is returned to said magazine bysaid reverse belt.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a magazinefor receiving forms of various sizes; a pair of spaced feed beltspassing adjacent the magazine and along one side of a feed path for theforms, each of said r feed belts having at least one opening therein,with the opening in one feed belt being in alignment with the opening inthe other feed belt; a first hollow vacuum member having an orificepositioned adjacent one of said feed belts along said one side of saidfeed path; a second hollow vacuum member having an orifice positionedadjacent the other of said feed belts along said one side of said feedpath; means for exhausting air in said first and second vacuum members,said first and second vacuum members operable in cooperation with theopening in its associated feed belt to cause normally one form at a timeto be withdrawn from said magazine and to be moved along said feed path;a reverse belt passing along the other side of said feed path, saidreverse belt movable in an opposite direction and having openingstherein along its entire length; a third hollow vacuum member having anorifice positioned adjacent said reverse belt along said other side ofsaid feed path; and means for exhausting air in said third vacuummember, said third vacuum member operable in cooperation with theopenings in said reverse belt to cause any form not directly influencedby the vacuum applied through the openings in said feed belts to contactsaid reverse belt whereupon it is returned to said magazine by saidreverse belt.

4, In a machine of the class described, the combination of a magazinefor receiving forms of various sizes; a pair of spaced feed beltspassing adjacent the magazine and along one side of a feed path for theforms, each of said feed belts having at least one opening therein, withthe openings in one feed belt being in alignment with the openings inthe other feed belt; a first hollow vacuum member having an orificepositioned adjacent one of said feed belts along said one side of saidfeed path; a second hollow vacuum member having an orifice positionedadjacent the other of said feed belts along said one side of said feedpath; means for exhausting air in said first and second vacuum members,said first and second vacuum members operable in cooperation with theopening in its associated feed belt to cause normally one form at a timeto be Withdrawn from said magazine and to be moved along said feed path;a reverse belt passing along the other side of said feed path, adjacentthe area between said feed belts, said reverse belt movable in anopposite direction and having openings therein along its entire length;a third hollow vacuum member having an orifice positioned adjacent saidreverse belt along said other side of said feed path; and means forexhausting air in said third vacuum member, said third vacuum memberoperable in cooperation with the openings in said reverse belt to causeany form not directly influenced by the vacuum applied through theopenings in said feed belts to contact said reverse belt whereupon it isreturned to said magazine by said reverse belt.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a magazinefor receiving forms of various sizes; a feed belt passing adjacent themagazine and along one side of an initial portion of a feed path for theforms, said feed belt having at least one opening therein; a firsthollow vacuum member having an orifice positioned adjacent said feedbelt along said one side of said initial portion of said feed path;means for exhausting air in said first vacuum member, said first vacuummember operable in cooperation with the opening in said feed belt tocause normally one form at a time to be withdrawn from said magazine andto be moved along said initial portion of said feed path; a secondhollow vacuum member having an orifice positioned near said feed belt ata point ad acent said one side of said initial portion of said feedpath; means for exhausting air in said second vacuum member, said secondvacuum member operable to cause any form being moved along said initialportion of said feed path under the direct influence of the vacuumapplied through the openings in said feed belt to be directed to asucceeding portion of said feed path independently of any other formmoving along the initial portion of said feed path; a reverse beltpassing along the other side of said initial portion of said feed path,said reverse belt movable in an opposite direction and having openingstherein along its entire length; a third hollow vacuum member having anorifice positioned adjacent said reverse belt along said other side ofsaid initial portion of said feed path; and means for exhausting air insaid third vacuum member, said third vacuum member operable incooperation with the openings in said reverse belt to cause said otherforms to contact said reverse belt whereupon they are returned to saidmagazine by said reverse belt.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a magazinefor receiving forms of various sizes, having a mouth; a pair of spacedfeed belts passing adjacent the mouth of said magazine and along oneside of a feed path for the forms, each of said feed belts having atleast one opening therein, with the openings in one feed belt being inalignment with the openings in the other feed belt; a first hollowvacuum member having an orifice positioned adjacent one of said feedbelts along said one side of said feed path; a second hollow vacuummember having an orifice positioned adjacent the other of said feedbelts along said one side of said feed path; means for exhausting air insaid first and second vacuum members, said first and second vacuummembers operable in cooperation with the opening in their associatedfeed belt to cause normally one form at a time to be withdrawn from saidmagazine and to be moved along an initial portion of said feed path; athird hollow vacuum member having an orifice positioned near said feedbelts at a point adjacent said one side of said initial portion of saidfeed path; means for exhausting air in said third vacuum member, saidthird vacuum member operable to cause any form being moved along theinitial portion of said feed path under the direct influence of thevacuum applied through the openings in said feed belts to be directed toa succeeding portion of said feed path independently of any other formmoving along the initial portion of said feed path; a reverse beltpassing along the other side of said initial portion of said feed pathadjacent the area between said feed belts, said reverse belt movable inan opposite direction and having openings therein along its entirelength; a fourth hollow vacuum member having an orifice positionedadjacent said reverse belt along said other side of said initial portionof said feed path; and means for exhausting air in said fourth vacuummember, said fourth vacuum member operable in cooperation with theopenings in said reverse belt to cause said other forms to contact saidreverse belt whereupon they are returned to said magazine by saidreverse belt.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,040,025 Schlesinger Oct. 1, 1912 1,214,474 Jones Jan. 30, 19172,812,941 Tebbs Nov. 12, 1957 2,856,187 Burckhardt et al. Oct. 14, 19582,936,170 Herrick et al. May 10, 1960

